UPDATE: The Fox River Corridor Plan has been adopted by the Village of Algonquin and the Village of Carpentersville and is now available for download.
The Village of Algonquin (located in McHenry and Kane counties) and the Village of Carpentersville (located in Kane County) share one of the region's great natural amenities — the Fox River. The village of Algonquin and Carpentersville are collaborating to create a corridor plan for the Fox River to increase access to the river, improve water quality, and enhance the downtown area of each community. The project area starts at approximately Klasen Road in Algonquin to the north and ends at Carpentersville's southern border.
The Fox River Corridor Plan was inspired by the recently completed subarea plans for the Villages of Algonquin and Carpentersville. With the help of CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, the Village of Algonquin completed its Downtown Planning Study in March 2013; and the Village of Carpentersville completed its Old Town Plan in July 2012. Both planning reports include recommendations to enhance recreational use of and access to the Fox River.
The Fox River Corridor Plan, also to be completed with the help of the LTA program, will address the land uses that line the waterway in Algonquin and in Carpentersville. More specifically, the plan will focus on the following areas:
- Safe walking/bicycling connections between key destinations along the riverfront.
- A network of bicycle trails that will link to the regional greenway system (Fox River Trail and Prairie Trail) as well as connect cyclists to local shopping, institutions, transit, and other neighborhoods.
- Environmental features and conditions within the river and riverfront, including vegetation, park space, and water quality.
- Accessibility to the important recreational features on and along the river, including park space, bicycling, paddling, fishing, and swimming.
- A future land use plan along the riverfront within the study area that is based upon public input and the results of the existing conditions report.
The planning process, developed in collaboration with the Villages of Algonquin and Carpentersville, involves five phases over the next 12 months. During the first phase, several project activities will be conducted to jumpstart the project, including key stakeholder interviews, the public kick-off meeting, and the launching of the project web page. The second phase will involve assessing the existing conditions of the project area by reviewing related documents and plans. The third phase will focus on developing a vision for the Fox River Corridor. The fourth phase will involve the development of a draft corridor plan that will be reviewed by both communities. The fifth and final phase will entail revisions to the corridor plan and its adoption.